Courses

Human civilization emerged over the past seven millennia. Over three quarters, a sequence of Stanford Continuing Studies courses has traced the rise of three epicenters of civilization, each contributing to the full flourishing of humanity. This third and final installment turns to the history and archaeology of Mesoamerica and the Andes—great centers of innovation that gave rise to enduring civilizations. Our journey begins more than 3,000 years ago with the Olmec and moves through the Teotihuacán, Zapotec, Maya, and Mexica-Aztec cultures of the north and the Wari and Inca of the south. Following a chronological path, we will explore major archaeological sites, from San Lorenzo and La Venta to Monte Albán, Tikal, Copán, and Teotihuacán, concluding with the monumental cities of Cuzco and Machu Picchu. The course also considers the profound impact of the Spanish conquest on Indigenous peoples and their cultural legacies, drawing on early ethnographic accounts. It concludes by tracing how the achievements of these civilizations laid foundations that still underlie the cultural landscape of the Americas.